Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Nestled at the foothills of the Satpuda Hills, Pench National Park is a spectacular wildlife destination located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The park derives its name from the Pench River that flows across from the north end of the park to
the south end. Pench National Park is sprawled over an area of 758 Square Kilometres, out of which the Mowgli Pench Sanctuary and Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park forms the core area of 299 Square Kilometres while the remaining buffer area
is spread over 464 Square Kilometres. The beauty of the park and the abundance of flora and fauna have been mentioned in several wildlife books of the 17th century.

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Pench National Park is also a renowned Tiger Reserve and holds a noteworthy place in the natural history of India. The park is known for the abundance of the fearless wild cats. Besides the other wildlife attractions of the place includes
39varied species of mammals, 13 different reptiles, 3 varies species of amphibians and over 210 varieties of birds. The area around the Chhindwara and Seoni districts was declared as Pench Sanctuary in the year 1977, and was upgraded to a status of
National Park sometime in 1983. Pench National Park was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1992, becoming the 19th Tiger Reserve of India.

Attractions at the Park

Pench National Park is a superb wildlife destination to get a peek into the untamed wilderness. It is a known Tiger Reserve and wildlife enthusiasts from all corners of the world come to sight these majestic predators. Besides the park is also
famous for spotting large herds of Indian Bison (Gaur), Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Wild Pig and Wild Dog. Among the predators you can also spot the leopards and the wolf.

Pench National Park is also renowned for being a good birding destination. The park has over 285 different species of birds that includes both resident and migratory birds. It is one of the best areas for birding that draw bird watchers from far
and wide. Some of the birds commonly sighted in the park are Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Barheaded Geese, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Coots, King Vulture, White Scavenger Vulture and Pochards to name a few.

Information about the Safari

Tourists can explore the wilderness of the jungles in the Pench National Park on a jeep safari. The open jeep safaris are the excellent means for wildlife viewing. While on the tour, visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of the place and
simultaneously spot wildlife creatures like chital, sambar, jackal, wild boar, leopard, jungle cat, langurs, barking deer, gaur, porcupine and many more. The duration and timings for visiting the park varies from season to season. The timings are as
follows:

Duration:

The duration for safari timings during winters and summers remain the same. It is nearly three hours in the morning and 2 ½ hours in the evening.

Timings:

Winter timings for entry into the Pench National Park during the morning are 7:30am to 10:30am. While, the evening safari timing shift is from 3pm to 5:30pm.

Summer safari morning shift starts from 6:30am to 9:30am whereas the evening safari timings are from 4pm to 6:30pm.

Pench Tiger Reserve has of late started awesome night safari to the delight of wildlife enthusiasts and adventurous folks. Night safaris are a recent experimentation and only five jeeps operate each night. The night safari is also referred as the
Wolf Safari because of easy sighting of these carnivores. You can also spot other wild animals like jackals, nilgai, sambar and deer to name a few, along with tigers and leopards being a prized catch. The Night safari covers the water hole and
buffer zone only and full measures are taken to ensure the safety of the tourists.

Duration:

The duration of night safari is about 31/2 to 4 hours depending on the forest conditions.

Timings:

The timings of night safari are from 7pm till 10:30pm or 11pm.

Entry Pass and Permits:

For entry passes and permits, visitors need to contact the director at Pench National Park.

Dos and Don’ts Within the Park:

Maintain silence inside the park

Do not wear flashy clothes inside the park and instead opt for neutral colors

Wearing strong smell or perfumes is also not advisable

Keep the environment pollution free and collect all your litter in a plastic bag for throwing it later in the garbage bin

Things to Carry Along:

Binoculars

Photo Id proof

Cap/hat and sunglasses during morning safari

Sunscreen

Mosquito repellents

During winter safari also carry a windcheater

Safety Measures to be Followed

Visitors must follow the instruction of their guides to ensure personal safety inside the park. Also getting down from the vehicle anywhere inside the jungle or getting too close to the wild animals can turn out to be very dangerous.

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Best Time to Visit the Park

The best months for visiting Pench National Park are from the months of October to February. The weather is slightly warm and the climatic conditions are favourable for animal sighting. The park remains closed in the monsoons from July to
September.

Nearby Destinations

Bandhavgarh National Park is a popular wildlife destination in the state of Madhya Pradesh that can be visited from Pench National Park. The place has high population of tigers and other wild life creatures. The Bandhavgarh
National Park with its pristine beauty and favourable climatic conditions is a destination worth visiting.

Another popular tourist’s spot in Madhya Pradesh is the Kanha National Park. The densely wooded forests of the park serve as the perfect habitat for wild animals and are an excellent place to sight the wild creatures right in
their abode. Kanha National Park is a terrific wildlife reserve and national park of Central India.

Tadoba National Park is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The reserve is well-known for its natural forests tracks and is bestowed with rich biodiversity. Tadoba National Park is a natural heritage that was created in
the year 1995.

Nagzira National Park is a popular tourists destination from Pench National Park that is located in Maharashtra. This wildlife sanctuary is extremely popular for its luxuriant vegetation and picturesque landscape.

Useful Information

Early morning safaris are the best if you want to sight the tigers and few other rare animals. Private vehicles are only allowed inside the park only in the presence of authorised guide.